Abstract
Organic farming is an agricultural production system that combines tradition, innovation, and science to provide high-quality food, benefit the shared environment, and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved. It is a subject of certification (i.e., issuing a declaration by a third party) based on a decision preceded by a review that compliance with specified requirements has been demonstrated in relation to products, processes, systems, or persons. As a result, organic food is created. The aim of the article was to conduct a critical analysis of the procedures and practices for the evaluation of organic farms carried out by Polish certification bodies and to identify areas for their improvement. The presented results are the effect of qualitative research based on in-depth interviews with the representatives of organic farms certifiers. They were preceded by preparatory research, in which the Delphi method was used. The questioned units in total provide services to approximately 50% of organic producers in Poland and each of them have at least 10 years of experience in the certification of organic farms. Specific areas of improvement in the process of evaluation of organic farms were identified and briefly discussed. As a result, the authors also formulated appropriate recommendations for improvement in the identified areas. Implementation of these recommendations would make it possible to standardize the activities of individual certification bodies and increases the transparency and credibility of the organic farming control system in Poland. Consequently, such implementation has the potential to increase consumer confidence in organic food.
Highlights
Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people
The importance of this factor is emphasized, among others, by Dabbert in the CERTCOST project report recommending strengthening the institutional foundations of the organic farming control system, through more direct involvement of stakeholders in the institutional structure and their participation in a knowledge-sharing platform between control bodies, Member State competent authorities, and other stakeholders [66] (p. 16)
The results of the present study indicate the possibility of improving the control procedures applied by individual organic farming control bodies in Poland
Summary
Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity, and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects [1]. It is a subject to obligatory certification (i.e., a third-party attestation) related to the object of conformity assessment [3]. Certification, or lack of it, is the result of a control (inspection)—the examination of an object of conformity assessment and determination of its conformity with detailed requirements or, on the basis of professional judgment, with general requirements [3]. The assessment is part of the organic farm certification process and is a broader concept than the control carried out on the farm
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